Method of determining optimal cell configuration based upon determined device location

ABSTRACT

A configuration device for configuring a wireless device within a wireless cell can include a receiving unit configured to receive a request message from a wireless device within a wireless cell. In addition, the configuration device can include a first processing unit configured to determine location information of the wireless device, and a second processing unit configured to determine a communication capacity of the wireless device, and to estimate a communication requirement based on the request message. Furthermore, the configuration device can have a transmitting unit configured to transmit optimal information to the wireless device with respect to the request message.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation of U.S. Utility Patent Application No. 12/876,613, filed Sep. 7, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,112,098, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The 12/876,613 application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation of U.S. Utility Patent Application No. 10/314,306, filed Dec. 9, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,818,015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The 10/314,306 application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/409,939, filed Sep. 12, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for using signal-generated location information to optimally configure a wireless cell network, within a wireless communication network environment such as IEEE 802.11, BLUETOOTH™, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) or any other wireless environment. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of and a system of optimally configuring a wireless device within a wireless cell based on the distance range location information and/or the geographic position location information of the wireless device. The present invention can be implemented in a wireless network device, which may include discrete devices or which may be implemented on a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon chip.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, cables and wires are predominately used as the communication medium for transferring information such as voice, video, data, etc. from one source to another. For example, cables or wires are commonly used to set up networking infrastructures in business offices, and are also used for personal home computing, and for connecting to the Internet. Therefore, cables and wires are generally used to configure a wired network wherein the cables and wires physically connect one or more device(s) to the wired network. And because the devices within the wired network are physically connected to the network, they remain stationary. Thus, reconfiguration of the wired network seldom occurs on a regular basis.

On the other hand, as wireless technology continues to advance and grow, the usage and the popularity of wireless devices will also increase and grow. Therefore, there may be an increase in wireless cell networks for providing coverage of wireless services therein. Since wireless devices can be mobile, wireless cell configuration can be implemented on a task-by-task basis to achieve optimal results. Accordingly, one way to optimize wireless cell configuration is to provide optimal location information within the wireless cell using determined signal-generated location information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operation that are further described in the following Brief Description of the Drawings, the Detailed Description of the Invention, and the claims. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For proper understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network configuration;

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a wireless network configuration;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart illustrating one example of a method of using signal-generated location information to configure a wireless cell network, according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a hardware configuration for configuring wireless devices in a wireless cell based on signal-generated location information, according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates one example of a topography display, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One example of the present invention can be a method of configuring a wireless device within a wireless cell. The method can include the steps of receiving a request message from a wireless device within a wireless cell, determining location information of the wireless device, and determining a communication capacity of the wireless device. In addition, the method can include the steps of estimating a communication requirement based on the request message, and providing optimal information to the wireless device with respect to the request message.

In another example, the present invention can relate to a configuration device for configuring a wireless device within a wireless cell. The configuration device can have a receiving unit configured to receive a request message from a wireless device within a wireless cell, a first processing unit configured to determine location information of the wireless device, and a second processing unit configured to determine a communication capacity of the wireless device. The second processing unit can also estimate a communication requirement based on the request message. In addition, the configuration device can have a transmitting unit configured to transmit optimal information to the wireless device with respect to the request message.

Additionally, another example of the present invention can provide a system of configuring a wireless device within a wireless cell. The system can include a receiving means for receiving a request message from a wireless device within a wireless cell, a first determining means for determining location information of the wireless device, and a second determining means for determining a communication capacity of the wireless device. Furthermore, the system can have an estimating means for estimating a communication requirement based on the request message, and a providing means for providing optimal information to the wireless device with respect to the request message.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network. The wireless network of FIG. 1 can be an ad hoc network 100 having two or more wireless nodes, stations or devices 101 a, 101 b, 101 c, . . . 101 n therein (hereinafter, any reference to device(s) shall also include node(s) and/or station(s)). The ad hoc network 100 can be formed on a temporary basis whereby two or more wireless devices can recognize each other and can establish communications with each other. The wireless devices can be any wireless communication device configured to communicate with the Internet and having multimedia capabilities. For example, devices 101 a, 101 b, 101 c, . . . 101 n can be a smart phone, PDA, a mobile laptop computer, a web-pad, a digital video camera, an automobile equipped with a wireless communication device, or any mobile electronic device. Within the ad hoc wireless network 100, each device can communicate with each other on a peer-to-peer level.

Another example of a wireless network is shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 provides a wireless infrastructure network 210 containing an Access Point 215 connected with a LAN 205, such as an Ethernet LAN. In addition, the wireless infrastructure network 210 can contain devices 220 a, 220 b, 220 c, 220 d, . . . 220 n. The Access Point 215 is connected to the LAN 205 by wires or cables and can be formed as part of the wired network infrastructure 205, having at least one service provider 200. The service provider 200 can include one or more server(s) connected to the LAN 205. One function of the Access Point 215 can be a bridge or a connection between the wireless network 210 and the wired network 205. Accordingly, all communications between the devices 220 a, 220 b, 220 c, 220 d, . . . 220 n or between the devices and the wired network 205 can go through Access Point 215.

The examples of wireless networks as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 can use wireless technologies such as IEEE 802.11, BLUETOOTH™, UWB, etc.

FIG. 3 illustrates one example of a method of optimally configuring a wireless cell network using signal-generated location information in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates one example of a method of using signal-generated location information, such as distance range location information and/or geographic position location information of a wireless device to optimally configure a wireless cell network having the wireless device therein. The method of the present example can be implemented in hardware, or software, or a combination of both hardware and software.

As mentioned above, as wireless technology continues to advance and grow, the usage and the popularity of wireless devices will also increase. Similarly, as wireless service providers offer more and convenient ways to access resources such as the Internet, the number of wireless cell providing coverage for network customers or users will increase. In order for the wireless network service provider to ensure that the connection and the communication with the wireless network is at an optimum, signal-generated location information of the wireless device within the wireless cell network can be used to optimally configure the wireless cell. Therefore, FIG. 3 illustrates one example of using signal-generated location information of a wireless device to optimally configure a wireless cell.

A user having a wireless device can either enter or can already exist in a geographic area having a wireless cell network and having wireless service coverage provide therein. The wireless network can be configured similar to the wireless network as shown in FIG. 2.

The wireless network can contain a configuration device, which acts as an access point for the wireless cell network. The configuration device can be connected to a wired LAN having a server. The wired LAN can be an Ethernet LAN wherein the Ethernet LAN includes one or more service provider(s). The user within the wireless cell network coverage area can send a request message from the wireless device to the configuration device. The request message can be a request to perform a specified task such as accessing resources or accessing services provided by or through the wireless cell network. The request message can include information such as the type of the wireless device, the data rate capacity of the wireless device, etc. In addition, the request message can be a request to perform a specified task wherein the request message can include information such as the type of task, the preferable data rate to achieve, the source and destination information, the priority of the task, etc. The configuration device can receive the request message from the user at step 300 of FIG. 3.

After the configuration device receives the request message, the configuration device initiates a signal-generating location information feature within the configuration device to determine the location information of the user who sent the request message at step 305. The configuration device can determine the location information such as the distance range location information or the geographic location information of the customer in various ways.

In one example, the configuration device can start by transmitting signals such as UWB signals within a predetermined default distance range at a corresponding power output level to locate the user's wireless device as well as other wireless devices within the wireless cell network. The configuration device can transmit UWB signals in unidirectional mode or omni-directional mode. In addition, the configuration device can transmit signals in pulses with short duty cycles.

After the transmission of signals either uni-directionally or omni-directionally, the transmitted signals can come into contact with the user's wireless device, and thereafter the signals can reflect back to the configuration device where the reflected signals can be received by the receiver within the configuration device.

Thereafter, the configuration device can monitor and register the timing of the transmission of the signals as well as the timing of the propagation of the signals. For example, the configuration device can monitor and record the time each signal is transmitted. Once the transmitted signals are reflected back and received by the receiver, the configuration device can monitor and record the time each signal is received. Based on this information, the configuration device can measure the total time duration for a signal to travel from the transmitter of the configuration device to the user's wireless device, and to reflect back and received by the receiver.

Based on this information and other factors, such as propagation delay, obstructions, the direction and angle of the signal transmission, the speed at which the signal travels compared to the speed at which light travels, etc., the configuration device can process the information in a location information processor to determine the distance range of the user's wireless device within the wireless cell network.

In another example, the configuration device can start by transmitting a range message signal to the user's wireless device within the wireless cell network. The range message signal can be sent out from a transmitter within the configuration device. In addition, the range message signals can be UWB signals transmitted in short duty cycles at a starting time T, such as T=0. Similar to the example above, the transmission of the range message signals can be unidirectional or omni-directional.

After sending the range message signals to the user's wireless device, the use's wireless device can receive the range message signal at a time T1. T1 for example, can be the sum of time T, the time of the processing delay ΔP, and the time of the first propagation delay ΔT₁. Thus, the user's wireless device can receive the range message signal at time T1, and can be represented as follows:

T1=T+ΔP+ΔT ₁

Once the user's wireless device receives the range message signals, the user's wireless device can process the received range message signal. The user's wireless device can determine whether or not to further establish communication with the configuration device, and abort the request. In the alternative, the user's wireless device can automatically respond and can send a range message acknowledgement signal to the configuration device. The range message acknowledgement signal can contain various information about the available device, such as the user's user ID, personal password, cryptography protocol, etc. The user's wireless device can send the range message acknowledgement signal at time T2. T2 for example, can be the sum of time T, the time of the processing delay ΔP, the time of the first propagation delay ΔT₁, and the turn-around time ΔTA. The turn-around time ΔTA can represent the period of time from the time the user's wireless device receives the range message signal to the time the user's wireless device transmits the range message acknowledgement signal. Accordingly, time T2 can be represented as the following equation.

T2=T+ΔP+ΔT ₁ +ΔTA

At time T2, a range message acknowledgement signal can be sent from the user's wireless device to the configuration device. After the range message acknowledgement signal reaches the configuration device, the range message acknowledgement signal can be received by the receiver. Once the range message acknowledgment signal is received, the configuration device can thereby determine a total time T_(Total). The total time T_(Total) can be the sum of time T2 and the second propagation time delay ΔT₂. Accordingly, the total time T_(Total) can be represented by the following equation.

T _(Total) =T2+ΔT ₂

Based on the total time T_(Total), the information embedded within the range message acknowledgement signal, and other factors such as device related delays, the configuration device can determine the distance range of the user's wireless device.

In yet another example, the configuration device can determine the geographic position of the user's wireless device. The configuration device can start by determining the surrounding environment in relation to itself. This information can be already stored within the configuration device if the configuration device remains relatively stationary, or the configuration device can determine the geographic area surrounding itself through a geographic position unit or other positioning systems such as a Global Positioning System.

Next, the configuration device of the present example can determine its own position in relation to the immediate surrounding environment. Again, this information can be already stored within the configuration device if the configuration device remains relatively stationary. For example, the configuration device can access data regarding the interior design or interior layout of the immediate environment instantly from a storage unit. In the alternative, the configuration device can transmit initial detecting pulse signals to detect the interior design or interior layout of the surrounding area.

After determining the immediate surrounding geographic area in relation to its own position, the configuration device can determine the distance range of the user's wireless devices by way of the examples mentioned above. The steps of determining the distance range can include the steps transmitting signals within the surrounding environment, receiving one or more second signal(s), and measuring the total propagation time, etc.

Once the configuration device has determined the distance range of the user's wireless device in relation to its own position, the configuration device can thereafter determine the coordinates of the user's wireless device based on information such as the distance range information, the surrounding geographic environment information, the global geographic positioning information, etc. The coordinates of the user's wireless device can in part determine the geographic position of user's location.

It is noted that although the examples provided above can determine the distance range location information and/or the geographic position location information of a singular wireless device, the present invention can determine the location information of a plurality of wireless devices within a wireless cell network. It is further noted that the location information of each wireless device can assist in the determination of the signal propagation characteristics of each wireless device.

Following the determination of the location information of the user's wireless device, the configuration device can determine the communication capacity of the user's wireless device at step 310. In other words, the configuration device can determine the communication capacity such as the data type capacity and the data rate capacity of the user's wireless device. The data type capacity can inform the configuration device about the types of data the user's wireless device can manage. For instance, the data type capacity can inform the configuration device whether the user's wireless device can manage audio, video and/or text, etc. Similarly, the data rate capacity can inform the configuration device about the data rates the user's wireless device can achieve. The communication capacity information corresponding to the user's wireless device can be embedded in the request message or can be embedded in a separate message signal from the wireless device to the configuration device. Furthermore, the communication capacity information can be preprogrammed within a look-up table or a storage unit in the configuration device, and can be accessed by an identifier of the wireless device.

Furthermore, after receiving the request message sent from the user's wireless device, the configuration device can estimate a communication requirement with respect to the request message to perform a specified task at step 315. In other words, the configuration device can receive a request to perform a specified task, and thereafter can estimate or assess the requirement(s) such as the data type requirement(s) and/or the data rate requirement(s) to execute the requested task. For instance, suppose a configuration device receives a request message sent from a user operating on a wireless device. The request message requests to download a multimedia file from the Internet, wherein the multimedia file contains text, audio and video data. Upon receiving the request message, the configuration device determines that the task requested is to download a multimedia file from the Internet. The configuration device then evaluates the task and estimates what is required to perform the task. In doing so, the configuration device estimates that the task requires text, audio and video data processing capabilities, and estimates the necessary data rate to complete the task in a given time frame.

After the configuration device estimates the communication requirement(s) to perform the specified task, the configuration device can evaluate and assess the location information of all the wireless devices including the user's wireless device within the wireless cell, the propagation characteristics of each wireless device, the communication capacity of each wireless device, the communication requirement(s) to perform the specified task, etc., and determine a primary optimal location and/or a primary optimal device which can optimally execute the specified task as well as secondary optimal locations and secondary optimal devices, and so forth.

Once the configuration device makes its evaluation and assessment of what is or are the optimal location(s) and/or the optimal device(s), the configuration device can transmit a recommendation signal to the wireless device recommending one or more optimal location(s) and/or optimal device(s) to the user for performing the specified task at step 320. The configuration device can recommend and provide the optimal information to the wireless device in various ways such as a listing of optimal devices with corresponding optimal locations along with the corresponding data rates and data types information, or a topography map having the optimal locations indicated thereon as shown on FIG. 5, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 5 shows one example of a display illustrating optimal locations and optimal devices for the wireless device to perform a specified task. FIG. 5 shows a topography map 500 that can represent the interior layout such as a floor plan of a geographic area where the wireless device is located therein. The topography map 500 includes a configuration device 505 that can function as a master device or an Access Point. The configuration device 505 is located in hallway 506. In addition, topography map 500 shows four separate work areas 501, 502, 503 and 504. It is noted that the topography map 500 can represent actual detected wireless devices within the topographic area in solid lines and optimal locations in broken lines. In other words, topography map 500 shows work areas 501 and 510 as having actual detected wireless devices 515 and 510, respectively, and shows work areas 502, 503 and hallway 506 as having optimal locations to perform a requested specified task.

Topography map 500 of FIG. 5 also displays device 515 and optimal location 530 in bold which can represent that the device 515 and the optimal location 530 represent the primary optimal device and the primary optimal location. Therefore, the example shown in topography map 500 of FIG. 5 can recommend the user requesting to perform a specified task that the wireless device 515 located in work area 501 can be the primary optimal device to perform the task, and that location 530 in hallway 506 can be the primary optimal location to achieve the task. Locations 520 and 525 can be secondary optimal locations to achieve the task. It is noted that topography map 500 can be supplemented with additional information on the same display or on a separate portion of the display. The additional information can be corresponding data capabilities information such as data types and data rates, the coordinates of the location. Therefore, the configuration device of the present invention can provide the wireless device a topography map indicating the primary optimal information and the secondary primary information thereon at step 325.

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a hardware configuration that can use determined location information to configure a wireless device within a wireless cell network, in accordance with the present invention. In addition, the hardware configuration of FIG. 4 can be in an integrated, modular and single chip solution, and therefore can be embodied on a semiconductor substrate, such as silicon. Alternatively, the hardware configuration of FIG. 4 can be a plurality of discrete components on a circuit board. The configuration can also be implemented as a general purpose device configured to implement the invention with software.

FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration device 400 configured to configure one or more wireless device(s) within a wireless cell network based on signal-generated location information of the wireless device(s). The configuration device 400 contains a receiver 405 and a transmitter 410. The transmitter 410 can transmit electro-magnetic signals as well as various other signals including UWB signals. The transmitter 410 can transmit signals in short pulses in short duty cycles. In the alternative, the receiver 405 can receive electro-magnetic signals as well as various other signals including UWB signals.

Furthermore, the configuration device 400 can include a geographic positioning unit 415 and a memory 435. The geographic positioning unit 415 can store geographic positioning information and interior floor plan information for a specific geographic area. Furthermore, the memory 435 can store information such as geographic maps, device capability information, or can store default values and look-up table, etc.

FIG. 4 also shows a processing unit 420, and a location information processing unit 425 for determining the location information such as the distance range or geographic location information of the wireless devices. It is noted that the location information processing unit 425 can be a separate processing unit. It is further noted that although the location information processing unit 425 is shown to be within the processing unit 420, the location information processing unit 425 can be a separate and distinct processing unit from the processing unit 420.

Therefore, the processing unit 420 can be the main processing unit and can process functions that are outside the functions of the location information processing unit 425. The location information processing unit 425 can therefore perform all the functions and tasks related to the determining of the range and geographic position location information of the available wireless devices. For instance, the location information processing unit 425 can measure or calculate the period of time period from the time a first signal is transmitted to the time a second signal is received. Similarly, the location information processing unit 425 can perform all the functions and tasks related to the determining of the geographic position of the available wireless devices. These processing functions can include determining the geographic coordinates of the available wireless devices within the surrounding geographic environment of the configuration device 400.

Furthermore, FIG. 4 includes an optimal information processing unit 430 and a display 440. The optimal processing unit 430 can perform tasks and function related to determining the communication capacity of a wireless device, estimating the communication requirements to perform a specified task, determining what the task is, determining which device or which location is the primary optimal information and which are the secondary optimal information, etc. The display 440 can be a plasma display, a LCD display or various other types of display for displaying multimedia information.

One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the invention as discussed above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations which are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. In order to determine the metes and bounds of the invention, therefore, reference should be made to the appended claims. 

1. A method comprising: receiving a request, at a first wireless device in a network, to perform a specified task from a second wireless device in the network, in which the network has a plurality of wireless devices; determining, at the first wireless device, data requirement to perform the specified task requested by the second wireless device; identifying, at the first wireless device, an optimal device in the network to provide the specified task based on the data requirement, in which the optimal device is one of the plurality of wireless devices in the network; and transmitting from the first wireless device to the second wireless device, an indication of the optimal device to perform the specified task.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data requirement includes a type of data to be transmitted.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data requirement includes a data rate that is to be transmitted.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data requirement includes a data rate that is to be transmitted in a given time frame.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is to be displayed on a topography map of the network.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the optimal device includes identifying a primary optimal device and a secondary optimal device to perform the specified task and the indication provides both the primary and secondary optimal devices to the second wireless device.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, at the first wireless device, locations of the plurality of wireless devices in the network.
 8. The method of claim 7, further including identifying, at the first wireless device, an optimal location within the network to perform the specified task and transmitting also in the indication, the optimal location to the second wireless device.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the optimal device and optimal location, at the first wireless device, includes identifying a primary optimal device and a secondary optimal device to perform the specified task based on the data requirement, and a primary optimal location and a secondary optimal location to perform the specified task, and the indication provides both the primary and secondary optimal devices and primary and secondary optimal locations to the second wireless device.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication is to be displayed on a topography map of the network.
 11. An apparatus comprising: a receiver to receive a request from a wireless device in a network to perform a specified task for the wireless device, in which the network has a plurality of wireless devices and the apparatus is part of the network; a processing unit, coupled to the receiver, to determine data requirement to perform the specified task requested by the wireless device based on the data requirement, and to identify an optimal device in the network to provide the specified task, in which the optimal device is one of the plurality of wireless devices in the network; and a transmitter, coupled to the processing unit, to transmit to the wireless device, an indication of the optimal device to perform the specified task.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus to operate as an access point in the network.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing unit determines the data requirement to include a type of data or data rate that is to be transmitted.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processing unit to identify a primary optimal device and a secondary optimal device to perform the specified task based on the data requirement, and the indication provides both the primary and secondary optimal devices to the wireless device.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a display in which the indication is to be displayed on a topography map of the network.
 16. An apparatus comprising: a receiver to receive a request from a wireless device in a network to perform a specified task for the wireless device, in which the network has a plurality of wireless devices and the apparatus is part of the network; a processing unit, coupled to the receiver, to determine locations of the plurality of wireless devices in the network, and the processing unit to determine data requirement to perform the specified task requested by the wireless device and to identify an optimal device in the network to provide the specified task based on the data requirement, and an optimal location within the network to perform the specified task, in which the optimal device is one of the plurality of wireless devices in the network; and a transmitter, coupled to the processing unit, to transmit to the wireless device, an indication of the optimal device and the optimal location to perform the specified task.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus to operate as an access point in the network.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing unit determines the data requirement to include a type of data or a data rate that is to be transmitted.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing unit to identify a primary optimal device and a secondary optimal device to perform the specified task based on the data requirement, and a primary optimal location and secondary optimal location to perform the task, and the indication to provide both the primary and secondary optimal devices and both the primary and secondary optimal locations to the wireless device.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a display in which the indication is to be displayed on a topography map of the network. 